Latest news with #TopSafetyPick
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport missed top safety ratings for this reason
The Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport SUVs failed to meet the marginal ratings to qualify for a top safety pick in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's latest safety ratings, with the institute noting there is a heightened risk for head and neck injuries in the rear seat of the Bronco Sport. On June 10, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — a nonprofit group owned by auto insurers with the purpose of reducing injuries from car crashes — said it tested nine vehicles and awarded six models from four different brands a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ award. Three of the vehicles tested — the Volkswagen Taos, Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport — did not earn a top safety ranking, rather came as "adequate," due to subpar performance in one or more of the required tests, the institute said in its findings. The crash tests showed both Broncos put rear seat passengers at an elevated risk of chest injuries. The Taos got inadequate results in the front crash test and for its headlights and pedestrian crash avoidance system. A spokesperson from Volkswagen did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on the results. Ford Motor Co. spokesman Mike Levine emailed the following statement to the Detroit Free Press: "The 2025 Bronco and Bronco Sport meet or exceed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) regulatory requirements. Both Bronco and Bronco Sport have earned overall 5-star NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings, and Bronco is currently the only vehicle in its segment to achieve a five-star overall vehicle score in NHTSA's testing." The insurance institute said to qualify for either Top Safety Pick+ or the lower-tier Top Safety Pick award this year, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front crash test. That test simulates a crash where a small portion of the front of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or barrier. Also, vehicles must get a good rating in updated side tests, an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation and acceptable or good-rated headlights across all trim levels. The institute said getting an acceptable rating in its updated moderate overlap front test is enough to qualify for Top Safety Pick, but a good rating is required to earn Top Safety Pick+. The moderate overlap test simulates a head-on collision where the vehicle's front overlaps 40% of a stationary vehicle's width at 40 mph. Its purpose is to measure rear-seat occupant protection. The 2025 models that did receive the Top Safety Pick+ ranking were: Hyundai Elantra, Kia K4 and Toyota Prius, all small cars; the Hyundai Sonata midsize car, the Toyota bZ4X electric small SUV, and the Nissan Murano midsize SUV. The institute said for some vehicles the Top Safety Pick+ award applies only to models built after the date when the manufacturer made improvements to rear occupant protection. For example, the award applies to Elantras built after October 2024, Sonatas built after November 2024 and K4s built after January 2025. The bZ4X award is for vehicles built after December 2024, when the headlights on its XLE trim were changed to the current good-rated ones. The insurance institute report said new ratings also are available for the Ford Bronco, Ford Bronco Sport and Volkswagen Taos, but "these models did not earn awards due to inadequate performance in one or more of the required tests." "The Bronco was disqualified from contention because of marginal ratings for its headlights, pedestrian front crash prevention system and moderate overlap crash performance," the institute wrote. "In the moderate overlap test, measurements taken from the rear dummy indicated an elevated risk of chest injuries, though the Bronco performed well by most other metrics." Ford's Bronco Sport also failed the same evaluation, but for different reasons. The institute said during the test, "the rear dummy's lap belt slid up onto the abdomen from the ideal position on the pelvis, which increases the chances of internal injuries. Measurements taken from the rear dummy also indicated an elevated risk of injuries to the chest and head or neck." The Bronco Sport earned the group's "acceptable rating" in the updated side test, primarily because of high injury metrics for the driver's pelvis. The institute said the 2025 Volkswagen Taos earned "only" an acceptable rating in the small overlap front test because the safety cage, which is designed to protect occupants, did not hold up well. It also fell short in the updated moderate overlap front test and earned subpar ratings for its headlights and pedestrian crash avoidance system. "Although Volkswagen added pretensioners and load limiters to the rear seat belts in the Taos in January 2025, chest injury metrics for the rear passenger remained high in the moderate overlap test," the report stated. More: From sourcing rare earth minerals to internal changes, 5 takeaways from chat with Ford CFO More: Cupholders bedevil auto engineers. How one Nissan designer is trying to get them right Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport missed top safety ratings Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Buick, GMC secure top safety pick status after many years
For the first time in many years, the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave qualified for the Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick Plus awards, respectively, in the latest testing round for vehicle safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2025 Buick Enclave midsize SUV attained the Top Safety Pick Plus award, the highest rating in the IIHS top safety study. The 2025 GMC Acadia attained Top Safety Pick this year but fell short of Plus status for scoring only 'acceptable' in a crash test updated earlier this year. David Aylor, vice president of active safety at IIHS, said both General Motors vehicles produced for the 2025 model year achieved higher rankings after meeting more stringent crash-safety and headlight requirements. Both vehicles missed out on IIHS's initial list of award winners back in March due to subpar headlight ratings, but changes implemented midyear meant the newest Enclaves and Acadias come standard with headlights that pass muster, according to the institute. Not since 2013 has the Enclave reached Top Safety Pick status, while the Acadia last obtained the distinction in 2017. IIHS updated its safety testing program this year to include requirements ensuring second-row occupants have the same level of protection afforded by advanced seat belts in the front row. This is determined on a test track where impact on 40% of the front end of a vehicle and damage to both the driver and a rear occupant behind the driver's seat is measured. Previously, acceptable ratings in this test sufficiently met requirements, but the updated test requires a 'good' rating to pass the category. GM sold 11,067 Buick Enclaves in the first quarter of 2025 and 13,257 GMC Acadias. The all-electric 2025 Cadillac Lyriq midsize luxury SUV, meanwhile, failed to reach top safety standards after flunking the headlight test. While GM repositioned headlights in the Acadia and Enclave to protect the vision of oncoming drivers, the Lyriq's headlights remain cocked at an unsafe angle, according to Aylor, earning the vehicle a 'poor' rating. 'The Lyriq would have qualified except its headlight produced excessive glare,' he said. IIHS uses sensors that measure vision distance and glare for vehicles in headlights' sight when grading performance on its Virginia test track. Qualifications for either award require brands meet 'good' ratings in small overlap front and side tests, rank 'acceptable' or 'good' for pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation as well as 'acceptable' or 'good' ratings for headlights. Also newly tested in this year's safety rating qualifications were the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, Kia K4, Nissan Kicks, Nissan Rogue, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Tacoma crew cab. One reason why IIHS staggers vehicle announcements for its safety list is to account for the time frame when vehicles undergo product updates and releases as well as when the institute can obtain the vehicles for testing. In addition to substandard performance, IIHS noted that missing data could also contribute to a failing grade, Aylor added. Not every vehicle that is new or significantly updated for 2025 has been tested for the full suite of ratings and may yet qualify. Only one vehicle in the latest batch of tested vehicles, the luxury SUV 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron, secured 'good' ratings in all categories. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Two GM vehicles get top safety ratings from Insurance Institute
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Did Only 2 Pickup Trucks Make the Latest IIHS Top Safety Pick List?
If you're anything like us, you occasionally find yourself going down an unexpected automotive rabbit hole. For example, you may have been recently glancing over the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's list of 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ winners and thinking, Where are all the trucks? Because the number of pickups that made the IIHS's top ranks this year is significantly less than in 2024. Last year, the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Toyota Tacoma (crew cab), Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 (crew cab and extended cab), Toyota Tundra (crew cab and extended cab) all garnered a rating of TSP or TSP+. In 2025, however, the list is down to two: the Rivian R1T and the crew cab Toyota Tundra. That's a rough culling of the herd, especially considering none of these pickups entered a new generation for 2025. So what's the deal? Road & Track asked IIHS spokesperson Joe Young to explain why so many pickups have dropped off the list. 'Several pickups that qualified for safety awards under our less stringent 2024 criteria have fallen off this year's list due to lackluster performance in [the] updated moderate overlap crash test,' Young says. See, the new moderate overlap front test takes a rear seat passenger dummy simulating a 'small woman or 12-year-old child' into account for the first time. Previously, only the risk to front occupants was taken into account. In the Ford F-150's case, the IIHS says it earned a 'poor' rating because the seat belt didn't do a good job restraining the occupant. Young says the dummy experienced what the IIHS refers to as 'submarining,' which 'is dangerous because it puts high belt forces into the organs and even spine of an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.' Hyundai's small pickup, the Santa Cruz, misses out on the TSP rating this year due to a similar issue. It only scored a 'marginal' rating on the moderate overlap test, with the IIHS saying it 'also had issues with the shoulder belt and risk of head/neck injury for the rear dummy.' There's more than just the tough test at play here, though. While the IIHS might've put out a big press release with its exhausting list of TSP and TSP+ picks listed on it on March 13, this is a rolling list. The organization simply hasn't had time to test every new pickup yet, and the Tacoma is one of those still pending. Same goes for the Chevrolet Colorado, and the extended cab version of the Tundra. 'As with past years, we'll continue testing vehicles and naming additional Top Safety Picks throughout the year,' Young says. 'We're hoping to see a few more pickups qualify so that consumers considering a small or large pickup have more options that make the grade for crashworthiness, crash prevention technology and headlight performance.' The picture for pickups might not look quite as bleak once those other 2025 models are scored with the new IIHS testing regiment — but only time will tell. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 36 safest cars you can buy right now, according to experts
When buying a new vehicle, safety is paramount. But how can you be sure that shiny new car isn't just a hunk of junk? That's where the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) steps in. The group just released its latest annual safety awards for dozens of vehicles, each of which has been tested across a series of tests. Just 48 models qualified for the IIHS' awards as of March 13, down from 71 models last year. Thirty-six of those vehicles won the nonprofit's highest designation — Top Safety Pick+ — while the remaining 12 were named a Top Safety Pick. Most of the selected models were SUVs; just two large pickups and a little more than a handful of small and midsize cars also won awards. That's likely because the IIHS' updated tests emphasize back seat protection, according to the group. 'We're once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,' IIHS President David Harkey said in a statement. 'Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row,' he added. These are some of the safest vehicles currently on the market, according to the IIHS' ratings. The Honda (HMC) Civic hatchback, Accord midsize car, and HR-V SUV received the highest designation from the IIHS, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The Accord was only docked points when tested for how well it could detect adult pedestrians at night. It failed to give any warning before hitting a test dummy when being driven at 37 miles per hour, at night, and with low beam headlights on. The Civic hatchback had similar issues, but was also hit for quiet alerts when a seat belt wasn't being used or was disengaged. The HR-V was docked points for headlights that are not curve-adaptive and that create some glare when using low beams, a difficult-to-find child seat tether anchor, and its performance on vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. Two other models, the Civic sedan and Pilot SUV, were given the lesser Top Safety Pick award. Acura's Integra hatchback and MXD luxury SUV were also given those designations. Mazda (MZDAY) went home with the most Top Safety Pick+ awards — eight. One model, the CX-30 SUV, had perfect marks, according to the IIHS. 'Kudos to Mazda for meeting this challenge with eight Top Safety Pick+ winners, the most of any brand,' Harkey, the IIHS president, said in a statement. Six models — the CX-70 SUV and its plug-in hybrid variant, the CX-90 SUV and its plug-in hybrid variant, the 3 sedan, and the 3 hatchback — were dinged for less-than stellar headlights. However, that varied by trim for all but the plug-in hybrid models. The CX-50 SUV also had headlight issues and lost points over front crash prevention exams. When a motorcycle was in front of the CX-50, it failed to provide a timely warning in all but one of the tests. It also failed to deliver a timely warning in one test conducted with a semitrailer. 'Mazda's dedication to keeping our customers and their passengers safe in the pursuit of eliminating traffic fatalities is evidenced in these latest awards from IIHS,' Tom Donnelly, the CEO of Mazda's North America division, said in a statement. Mercedes-Benz's (MBGYY) C-Class midsize car, GLC luxury SUV, and GLE-Class SUV with optional front crash prevention were all named Top Safety Pick+ models. The C-Class model got docked points for its headlights — which had some limitations at lower tiers — and was too slow to react to an adult pedestrian at night. The GLC and GLE SUVs had similar issues reacting to pedestrians, but their headlights performed better than the C-Class'. Toyota's (TM) Camry midsize car and Tundra pickup truck also received Top Safety Pick+ awards. The Camry was docked points for its low beam headlights, which delivered only fair visibility on straight roads, as well as inadequate visibility when curving left, the IIHS said. The high-beams compensate for some of the low beams' limitations, the group added. The Tundra — one of just two pickups included in the IIHS' top rankings — was docked points for how quickly it reduced speed when encountering an adult pedestrian at night, along with difficult-to-find child seat tethers. The IIHS also noted that the low beam headlights included in a few trims created some glare. Genesis (HYMTF) — the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Group, which also owns the Hyundai and Kia name brands — had four SUVs receive Top Safety Pick+ designations. That includes the GV60, GV80, and the electrified GV70. The gasoline-powered GV70 also was recognized, but only for units built after April 2024. The GV60 and GV80 both lost points over backseat tether anchors for child seats that were too deep in the seat, according to the IIHS. Both GV70 variants were docked points for crash prevention systems that failed to provide quick enough warnings for the vehicle to avoid hitting an adult pedestrian at night. Hyundai had five vehicles notch Top Safety Pick+ awards from the IIHS. That includes the electric Ioniq 5 midsize car and Ioniq 6 SUV, Kona SUV, and the Tucson SUV. Santa Fe SUVs built after November 2024 were also given that distinction. The Tucson was docked points for child seat anchors buried too deeply in the rear seats and a forward collision avoidance software that failed to provide a timely warning in most tests. Headlights on some trims were also given a lower score because they aren't curve-adaptive. Likewise, the Ioniq 6, Kona, and Santa Fe lost points because of their headlights and child seat anchors. The Ioniq 5 shared the child seat anchor issues and had glaring low beam headlights on some trims. Forward collision avoidance software equipped to Ioniq 5 SE and SEL models also failed to deliver timely warnings when encountering an adult pedestrian at night. Kia's Telluride SUV and EV9 all-electric SUV both received the IIHS' Top Safety Pick+ award. They both got top marks on the group's tests. 'IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards reinforce our dedication to building vehicles that not only perform but also provide peace of mind,' Kia America COO Steven Center said in a statement. Subaru's (FUJHY) Solterra all-electric SUV was its only vehicle to be awarded the IIHS's top safety award for 2025. The Solterra, which was co-developed with Toyota (which sells the mostly identical bz4x), is the brand's first electric car. It scored top marks on all of the IIHS's tests. Two other Subaru models, the 2025 Ascent and Forester, were given the Top Safety Pick award. Both lost points for potential injuries to rear passengers during a crash involving two vehicles driving in opposite directions at just under 40 miles per hour. 'It's an honor for Solterra, Ascent and Forester to be recognized by IIHS' new, increasingly rigorous testing for both driver safety and passenger safety,' Jeff Walters, the president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America, said in a statement. Ford's (F) Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, which grew more popular last year, was the Detroit automaker's only vehicle included in the IIHS' rankings, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ designation. The model scored top marks when tested for crashworthiness, crash avoidance, and crash mitigation, but was docked some points for its child seat attachments. The IIHS said that tether anchors could be confused for other hardware. Ford is also being sued over the Mustang Mach-E's electric latches, which replaced the typical door handles most vehicles have. Lincoln, Ford's luxury division, saw its popular Nautilus midsize SUV receive the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. It scored top marks across all categories tested. Audi (VWAGY), the luxury brand owned by Volkswagen Group, won a Top Safety Pick+ award for its Q7 SUV. The model performed well during the IIHS' crashworthiness tests, but had middling results during crash avoidance and mitigation exams. The $77,900 Prestige trim's headlights performed well when tested. However, the headlights used by the $60,500 and $64,300 Premium and Premium Plus trims were found to have glaring low beams and weren't curve-adaptive. The Q7 also failed to deliver a timely warning when it was too close to a motorcycle driving ahead of it. But the IIHS said it did not test the SUV's automatic brakes. It was also docked points for how well it detected an adult pedestrian at night. BMW's X5 midsize luxury SUV was given a Top Safety Pick+, scoring top marks on all but one category tested. The model's low beam headlights created 'some glare,' the IIHS said. Electric truck maker Rivian (RIVN) had two of its models receive awards from the IIHS, the R1T pickup and the R1S SUV. The RIS was given the Top Safety Pick+ designation, achieving top marks in all but one category, according to the IIHS' ratings. The group had an issue with the SUV's headlights, stating that its low beams created 'some glare.' The IIHS also notes that its award only applies to units made after last August. In early 2024, the company retooled its manufacturing process to cut more than 50 parts from the design of its vehicles, 52 pieces from the body shop, and more than 100 steps from the battery-making process, CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters. The R1T was awarded the Top Safety Pick designation, achieving top scores on all but two categories. Like the R1S, the R1T lost points for its headlights. It also had a poorer score during a crash test. Infiniti's (NSANY) QX80 SUV was named a Top Safety Pick+, while its QX60 luxury SUV was given a Top Safety Pick rating. The QX80 scored top marks on the IIHS' tests. The QX60 also scored highly, but was docked points during a moderate overlap front test. The model scored an 'acceptable,' the second-to-best rating, for potential injuries to a rear passenger during a head-on crash. Volvo Cars (GELYF), the Swedish brand owned by Chinese giant Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, had two cars receive the IIHS' awards, although it only applies to vehicles made before December 2024. The XC90 midsize luxury SUV was given the Top Safety Pick+ award, while its plug-in hybrid counterpart was named a Top Safety Pick. The XC90 performed well during a crash, but scored poorly in the IIHS' categories under crash avoidance and mitigation. It was docked points for low beam headlight performance, along with how well its forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems performed in the presence of a motorcycle, children, and adults. The IIHS also docked the model for its poor tether anchors for child seats. Nissan's Pathfinder was the only model from the Japanese automaker to receive a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The midsize SUV performed well in all areas tested except its headlights. The IIHS said visibility was only fair when using low-beams and high-beams on curved roads. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
48 Safest Cars in America According to the IIHS
IIHS just picked the safest cars sold in America. Only 48 made the list. Higher standards addressing rear-seat safety meant fewer winners for 2025. Safe vehicles abide across the spectrum of cars, trucks, and SUVs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has once again picked its safest cars. Is your car on it? The tests were tougher this year, including crash test dummies in the back seats. The Institute's updated moderate overlap front test adds a second crash test dummy seated behind the driver and emphasizes back seat safety, IIHS said. Last year, an 'acceptable' or 'good' rating in the updated test was a requirement for the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award. However, a 'good' rating in the original test was still enough to earn the base award. 'This year, vehicles must earn an 'acceptable' rating in the updated test to qualify for Top Safety Pick, while a 'good' rating is required for the 'plus,'' the Institute said. The front overlap test smacks the vehicle headlong into a fixed barrier right on the left front headlight. The side impact test sees a heavy sled carom into the right side B-pillar. It's gruesome, but necessary for safety advancement. In addition, an 'acceptable' or 'good' rating is also required in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation, which gauges performance in both daytime and nighttime conditions. Pedestrian detection requires numerous sensors. (IIHS was founded and is funded by insurance companies. Optimists will say it makes us all safer. Pessimists have been known to snipe that insurance companies just don't want to pay out so many premiums. Take your pick.) 'We're once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,' IIHS President David Harkey said. 'Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row.' This year 48 vehicles are on the list, compared to 71 from 2024. Here are the new winners: Small Cars: Honda Civic hatchback, Mazda 3 hatchback, Mazda 3 sedan Midsize Cars: Honda Accord, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Toyota Camry Midsize Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Small SUVs: Genesis GV60, Hyundai Tucson, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mazda CX-50, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Solterra Midsize SUVs: Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Santa Fe (built after November 2024), Kia EV9, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-70 PHEV, Mazda CX-90, Mazda CX-9 PHEV, Nissan Pathfinder Midsize Luxury SUVs: BMW X5, Genesis Electrified GV70, Genesis GV70 (built after April 2024), Genesis GV80, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with optional front crash prevention, Volvo XC90 (built before December 2024) Large SUVs: Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, Rivian R1S built after August 2024 Large Pickup: Toyota Tundra crew cab Small Cars: Acura Integra hatchback, Honda Civic sedan Large Luxury Car: Genesis G90 Small SUVs: Subaru Forester (excludes Wilderness trim) Midsize SUVs: Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent Midsize Luxury SUVs: Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60, Lexus NX, Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid (built before December 2024) Large Pickup: Rivian R1T
